If your tastes take you toward atypical designs, you’ll find kindred spirits at Arcadia Yachts. The Italian yard was founded six years ago on the principle of providing megayacht buyers with anything but traditional-looking craft, in combination with more usable space. Its first model, the Arcadia 85, premiered in Europe in 2010. The U.S. version of the Arcadia 85 keeps the series’ emphasis on strikingly different looks, layouts, and equipment.
Angular styling and mostly single-level living (no flying bridge) are hallmarks of the Arcadia 85. So, too, are the solar panels on her superstructure’s roof. They serve a few purposes, such as powering much of the hotel load. That frees up the two 25-kW Kohler gensets for the 180,000-Btu Condaria air-conditioning system, all of which are more powerful than their counterparts on the European version of the Arcadia 85. The solar panels further assist with thermal insulation. Each can open or close like a louver to control the sunlight entering the all-glass superstructure. All together, there are about 431 square feet (40 square meters) of solar panels.
Since yacht owners and guests spend most time aboard outside, the Arcadia 85 has a tremendous aft deck. It measures 26 x 23 feet (8 x 7 meters, respectively). Megayachts nearly twice her LOA boast this type of alfresco space here. Arcadia Yachts creates it by shifting the superstructure of the 85 farther forward. There’s a sunning area, shaded seating and dining, and an overall atmosphere that invites you to spend the day in more than just one small spot.
You might think that with the superstructure pushed forward, the Arcadia 85 suffers inside. Not so, due to the abundant sunlight filtering in and the 8’9” (2.7-meter) headroom. A decided lack of non-structural bulkheads keeps the flow open between the saloon and dining area, the latter raised one step.
Here’s a better look at the dining area and the architecturally striking fascia for the pass-through from the galley. The pass-through is only aboard the U.S. version of the Arcadia 85. (The European configuration still keeps the galley on deck, however.) The American version further has a larger refrigerator and an icemaker. Regardless of version, the Arcadia 85 has a side-deck door in the galley as well, good for air flow.
Lest you forget you’re aboard an Italian-made megayacht, look over the sculptural floating stairway leading down to the staterooms from just abaft the helm. Also note the leather panel inset, stainless steel handrail, and stone veneer lining the guest foyer. The foyer also contains a hidden washer and dryer included specially for the American market. Some buyers of the Arcadia 85 may not have full-time crew and/or prefer doing small loads themselves.
Accommodations aboard the Arcadia 85 include this full-beam master stateroom, a VIP, and two twin staterooms. The master gets the most ports, of course, with the small center one opening for ventilation. Satin-finished pale woods on the wall combine and contrast with high-gloss dark timbers for nightstands and other furnishings. The headboard is white lacquer, sculpted to mimic waves.
Despite what is all-too-common on many Italian megayachts, the crew areas aboard the Arcadia 85 are not confined. The helm has a small observation settee to starboard (not visible) and abundant elbow room. It further benefits from the excellent headroom found throughout the main deck and large, single-pane, wrap-around vertical ports. Two crew cabins below decks, accessed via stairs from the helm, each have their own head, too. On the European version of the 85, crew quarters are accessed via a foredeck hatch.
Arcadia Yachts’ founders have previous experience in yachting and in studying the American market. They, with their stateside representatives at HMY SuperYachts, therefore took their time before introducing the U.S. version of the Arcadia 85. The yacht offers the same reported 16½-knot leisurely cruise and 18½-knot top end under MAN power as the European version. She also offers the same reported 850-nautical-mile range at 12 knots. The Arcadia 85 is meant to be a family- and friend-oriented yacht where you take your time and spend more time together, being a little “greener” in the process.
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